Gary sent me this, to repost from his original writings in the Washington Post. As you can see, he defends our understanding of politics.

Editor: What's with you guys in the Eastern Establishment, don't you trust us hayseeds to vote “correctly” for our representative in Congress?  First we get Mark Shields (Nov. 11)  who said we Iowans “inexplicably”defeated 15-term Republican Congressman Jim Leach, and then David Broder (Nov. 30)  blames the Poker Players Alliance and the Christian Coalition (both insididious forces) for his defeat.

Hogwash! Let's get a few facts straight– Number #1: Congressman Leach showed how  principled a moderate he was when, after the 2000 redistricting, he was given a chance to run in a Republican primary against right-wing conservative Congressman Jim Nussle( famous for the paper bag over his head and support of Newt Gingrich). Instead Leach moved to Iowa City to run in our Congressional District.
    
Second, yes, he voted against the Iraq War, but when the chips were down in the 2004 election he brought one of the architects of the war, Dick Cheney, to campaign for him.

Third, he has consistently voted to allow corporations to fire striking workers, and tied a raise in the minimum wage to a cut in estate taxes.   

Fourth, Leach's first vote in the new Congress would have been for Dennis Hastert for Speaker (if the Republicans maintained their majority), insuring iron-clad Republican control of all House committees.

I could go on and on, but I have been a political activist here for 27 years, and, believe me, it wasn't poker players or the Christian Coalition that finally beat Leach.  And it wasn't “inexplicable”.  The voters of this district  decided we wanted a liberal activist Democrat, Dave Loebsack,  to represent us in Congress, and not a Republcian moderate who came through for the Republican party when it counted.